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Hunting for Suspicious HTTPS Traffic

In this lab, you'll explore detecting malicious HTTPS communications. Using Wireshark and custom scripts on Windows and Ubuntu systems, you'll analyze both standard and non-standard port traffic, differentiate encrypted sessions, and document suspicious network activities.

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Lab Info
Rating
(14)
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 04, 2025
Duration
1h 35m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Getting Started in the Lab Environment

    Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

  2. Challenge

    Capturing and Analyzing HTTPS Traffic

    In this lab, you'll explore detecting malicious HTTPS communications. Using Wireshark and other tools, you'll analyze both standard and non-standard port traffic, differentiate encrypted sessions, and document suspicious network activities.

  3. Challenge

    Identifying Suspicious Certificates and Handshakes

    Investigate the integrity of SSL/TLS implementations and certificates in HTTPS communications to uncover sophisticated evasion tactics and potential C2 channels.

  4. Challenge

    The Last Challenge

    Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.

About the author

Lee Allen is a penetration tester by trade. Lee has authored four books about penetration testing and has created several Pluralsight courses.

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